News Summary
The Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC Detroit) has kicked off its Light School, offering a unique evening design program for aspiring designers. With courses in footwear, apparel, and accessories design, the initiative aims to empower local talent like Rohna Battle-Woodger. The seven-week program, free of charge, is designed to cultivate diversity within the design field and provides students with real-world opportunities through partnerships with industry leaders. Exciting projects could even be produced by major retailers like StockX, setting students on a promising career path.
Detroit Takes a Bold Step in Design Education
In a thrilling development for the creative minds of Detroit, the Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC Detroit) has officially launched its inaugural Light School. This new evening design program offers a unique opportunity for aspiring designers, regardless of their background, to dive headfirst into the exciting world of footwear, apparel, and accessories.
Empowering Local Talent
Among the inaugural class of 35 students is Rohna Battle-Woodger, a passionate 24-year-old who is eager to channel her design ambitions into tangible projects. After earning her degree from Michigan State University, she took up a role as a marketing director but soon realized her heart was truly in design. Now at PLC Detroit, Rohna is ready to learn, grow, and unleash her creativity.
Located in Bedrock’s Icon building in Rivertown, PLC Detroit is the revitalization of the historic Lewis College of Business, Michigan’s only historically Black college (HBCU), which once served around 27,000 students before its closure in 2013. Established in 1928, the original institution aimed to empower Black women through education in secretarial skills. Fast forward to 2022, and PLC Detroit has adopted a modern approach, focusing on footwear design and positioning itself as the upcoming hub for creative minds in the fashion industry.
What’s on the Agenda?
The PLC Light School runs for a free seven-week period, from January 27 to March 13, 2025, and it features classes on Monday and Thursday evenings. This program is accessible to all Metro Detroit residents aged 18 and over, provided they are high school graduates. It offers a project-based curriculum that covers an impressive array of subjects, including Accessories Design, Apparel Design, Footwear Design, Graphics, Product Marketing, Social Marketing, and Web Design.
Students will also have a fantastic chance to showcase their final projects to industry representatives from PLC Detroit, StockX, and the Detroit Pistons. Selected projects could even be produced and sold through StockX, giving students a head start in building their careers in the design space.
Cultivating Creative Opportunities
The initiative is part of a broader mission to foster diversity within the design field. By empowering underrepresented voices and providing access to essential educational resources, PLC Detroit is laying the groundwork for a thriving creative community.
In addition to the Light School, the college offers free masterclasses in partnership with renowned companies like Target and Foot Locker. These masterclasses have a track record of leading to internships and apprenticeships, ensuring that students don’t just learn theoretical skills but gain real-world experience and contacts within the industry.
The inaugural class received sponsorship from Carhartt, and partnerships with the Detroit Pistons and StockX further strengthen the college’s commitment to forging connections between students and industry leaders.
Looking ahead, PLC Detroit aims to offer an associate degree in applied science in collaboration with the Wayne County Community College District. Currently, however, it does not hold HBCU status because it is not accredited and does not offer degrees or federal student aid just yet. But with exciting developments in the pipeline, the future looks bright.
Spotlight on Success
Excitingly, success stories are already emerging from the college’s initiatives. Former student Jordan Dixon is set to launch a collection for his streetwear brand, NoxID, equipped with skills and insights gleaned from his time at PLC.
D’Wayne Edwards, the president of PLC Detroit and an accomplished footwear designer, highlights the college’s pivotal role as a resource for creative opportunities and personal growth within Detroit. With a supportive network in place, students are encouraged to elevate their skills and career ambitions, making PLC Detroit an invaluable asset to the city’s creative landscape.
As this innovative program takes flight, the ripple effects are bound to inspire more homegrown talent to embrace design and creativity. Detroit is ready to take the design world by storm, one student at a time.
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Additional Resources
- BridgeDetroit: Pensole Lewis College Aims to Become Detroit’s Design Hub
- Wikipedia: Design Education
- Hour Detroit: Parents’ Guide to Kendall College of Art and Design
- Google Search: Design Education in Detroit
- Detroit News: Detroit Grand Prix Poster Winner Crowned
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Design
- Michigan Chronicle: PLC Light School Shines
- Google News: Detroit Design College
- BridgeDetroit: Detroit’s HBCU Offers Free Design Courses
- Google Scholar: Design Education
- Footwear News: StockX and Detroit Pistons Free Night School
